TAX TIME!

Catholic Charities’ Volunteer Income Tax (VITA) program is back in action at a new location: Catholic Central School in Latham. 

Students from Catholic Central High School in Troy have been collaborating for years with VITA, which offers free tax preparation to individuals or families with a household income of $54,000 or less. 

After CCHS’s merger with St. Ambrose School, accounting students are now bringing the program to life at their new Latham campus on Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. VITA sites are also available at the Pastoral Center in Albany on Sundays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m, and Hudson Valley Community College in Troy on Fridays from 1-4 p.m.

John Heart, an attendee, has been going to VITA for years. “I won’t go anywhere else,” he said. “I’m so grateful, and they’re so wonderful.”

Joyce and William Okesson have also been utilizing the VITA program for years as well. While usually attendees at the Pastoral Center, the Okessons have almost always had their taxes done by a student: “It’s awesome,” Joyce said. “(They’re) incredible, especially the young kids.”

“The clients are very trusting of us and we can build a relationship with the clients,” said Shania Johnson, a senior at CCS. “It’s fulfilling in a way that you helped somebody, and it’s a nice reward to see somebody smile at the end.”